West Africa / Civil society organisations meet on ways to support realisation of ECOWAS vision
COTONOU, Benin, June 26, 2008/African Press Organization (APO)/ -- West African civil society organizations began a meeting in Cotonou on Thursday, 26th June 2008 to agree on the mechanism for the establishment and operations of an apex institution that will support ECOWAS in mobilizing regional citizens for the realization of its vision of a people-oriented organization by 2020.
Delegates representing 30 civil society organizations recognized by ECOWAS and 15 other experts are attending the three-day meeting of the Forum of Associations Recognized by ECOWAS (FARE) which would also contribute to integrating ECOWAS citizens.
The Cotonou meeting for the creation of the new apex institution, which would serve as a forum for dialogue and cooperation, will enable the organizations accept the idea of internal grouping and propose the mechanism for its establishment and functioning.
It will also provide an opportunity for the West African Civil Society Forum (WACSOF), the umbrella regional organization for such organizations, to make a presentation on its achievements.
This fourth meeting will also enable participants to consider the reports of the 11th June 2008 meeting of WAWA on the networking of civil society organizations held in Abuja and the March 2008 meeting of its sub-committee held in Ouagadougou. The sub-committee examined the options and modalities for establishing a regional apex institution that will accompany ECOWAS in mobilizing the citizens for the realization of its vision.
The representative of the ECOWAS Commission, Mr. Gabriel Hounsou, said at the opening ceremony that the Commission appreciated the vital role of civil society organisations as vital instruments for grassroots mobilization in support of regional integration. As evidence of this recognition, he said the Commission has been supportive of the involvement of such organizations as manifested in its support for the creation of WACSOF.
The meeting was opened by Mr. Mohamed Assani, the Head of the ECOWAS National Unit for Benin, who stressed the importance of citizen involvement in integration. He described civil society organisations as important partners whose role is critical for the realization of the ECOWAS integration project.
SOURCE : Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS)